Two people have been charged in connection with a house fire in Waterford that killed four members of one family, according to The Irish Times. Cian Stacey, 21, and Jessica Dalton, 31, were brought before a special sitting of Clonmel District Court in County Tipperary on Saturday evening.
Each faces three charges: one count of criminal damage and two counts of assault causing serious harm. The fire, which broke out on Tuesday, claimed the lives of Philip and Kim English and their sons Callum, 12, and Jayden, 9, at the family home.
Judge Andrew Gubbins presided over the Saturday sitting and was told that both defendants faced the same set of three charges.
Why it matters
The case follows the deaths of two adults and two young children in a single household, and it has moved quickly from the fire itself to criminal proceedings in the space of days. A special weekend court sitting is generally reserved for matters a court considers urgent, and the decision to hold one here reflects the gravity of the allegations.
The charges as currently framed are serious but do not include any count related to the deaths. That distinction is likely to be central as the case proceeds.
What the court was told
Detective Sergeant Michael Burke told the court that Dalton, who has an address in Waterford city, was charged with the three offences at 2.45pm on Saturday at Waterford Garda Station. According to the account given in court, she made no reply to the charges.
Her barrister, Ciaran Murphy, said she consented to being remanded in custody until Tuesday, when she is due to appear at Waterford District Court. He applied for legal aid on the basis that she is a lone parent and is not employed.
Dalton appeared in court wearing a black sports top and leggings, The Irish Times reports.
Detective Sergeant Brian O'Callaghan told the court that Stacey, who has no fixed address, was charged at 2.44pm at Waterfront Garda Station and also made no reply. Murphy made no application for bail on his behalf, and Stacey was remanded to appear by videolink on Tuesday at Waterfront District Court.
Stacey appeared wearing a grey tracksuit top.
Charges and next steps
The two counts of assault causing serious harm are separate from the single criminal damage charge, and the court did not hear details on Saturday of what each count relates to. The names of the accused were also reported by waterford-news.ie following the sitting.
Both defendants are now remanded in custody, with Dalton due to appear in person at Waterford District Court and Stacey due to appear by videolink at Waterfront District Court, both on Tuesday.
The investigation into the fire continues, and Tuesday's hearings are expected to set the timetable for the case.
